Domaine François Villard

2022 Saint-Joseph AOC Mairlant Blanc

The top Marsanne/Roussanne from François, the Mairlant blanc hails from the Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf & Limony vineyards, situated on Saint-Joseph’s quintessential soils of decomposed granite, poor in nutrients and with excellent drainage, showing the most gloriously tensile side of the Northern Rhône’s dynamic duo: Marsanne & Roussanne. This cuvée shows the duo in even footing, François’s largest proportion of Roussanne in the portfolio. At 7,000 vines per hectare in Single Guyot training, 2022 saw a yield of 45hl/ha, making for 12,000 bottles. The vines face south-east and are of course farmed by hand, as all his Saint-Joseph vineyards are rather steep and mostly terraced. He does a low temperature indigenous ferment in oak for his Mairlant, as he does for his other Marsanne’s, but here he does all barrels (instead of foudres) and more bâtonnage (weekly for about six weeks) and includes 10% new oak, resting the wine therein for 12 months, followed by a further eight months in stainless steel to settle and get to know itself before bottling. 13.5%. Cellaring potential: 15 years. An excellent vintage.
France
White
Biodynamic Wine
Vegan
We add bit Sulphites
Vegan Wine

Region:  Saint Pierre de Boeuf and Limony

Appellation:  Saint-Joseph AOC

Varietal/Blend:  55% Marsanne, 45% Roussanne

ABV:  13.5%

Vineyard & Vine Age:  Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.

Cellar: François Villard Saint-Joseph AOC Mairlant Blanc is direct pressed to small French oak for a low-temperature indigenous ferment on the lees. The wine ages 12 months in barrels, 10% new, with weekly bâtonnage, then eight months in stainless steel.

CSPC:  123978

Winemakers Note:  []

What the Critics are saying:  “A serious, energetic and refined white Saint‑Joseph with plenty of aroma and character. The nose is full of lemons, quince peel, herbs and salt, which carry through to a medium body with bright acidity. Vertical and saline, with a precise core of lively lemons and herbs bringing a ton of vivacity to the centre of the palate. Stony and dynamic.” Score: 93 - James Suckling

A logo for vino al vino with a bottle of wine in the center.
Domaine François Villard
2022 Saint-Joseph AOC Mairlant Blanc

Region:  Saint Pierre de Boeuf and Limony

Appellation:  Saint-Joseph AOC

France
White
Biodynamic Wine
Vegan
We add bit Sulphites
Vegan Wine
The top Marsanne/Roussanne from François, the Mairlant blanc hails from the Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf & Limony vineyards, situated on Saint-Joseph’s quintessential soils of decomposed granite, poor in nutrients and with excellent drainage, showing the most gloriously tensile side of the Northern Rhône’s dynamic duo: Marsanne & Roussanne. This cuvée shows the duo in even footing, François’s largest proportion of Roussanne in the portfolio. At 7,000 vines per hectare in Single Guyot training, 2022 saw a yield of 45hl/ha, making for 12,000 bottles. The vines face south-east and are of course farmed by hand, as all his Saint-Joseph vineyards are rather steep and mostly terraced. He does a low temperature indigenous ferment in oak for his Mairlant, as he does for his other Marsanne’s, but here he does all barrels (instead of foudres) and more bâtonnage (weekly for about six weeks) and includes 10% new oak, resting the wine therein for 12 months, followed by a further eight months in stainless steel to settle and get to know itself before bottling. 13.5%. Cellaring potential: 15 years. An excellent vintage.

TECHNICAL INFO

Varietal/Blend:  55% Marsanne, 45% Roussanne

ABV:  13.5%

Vineyard:  François Villard Saint-Joseph AOC Mairlant Blanc comes from organic estate vineyards in Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf and Limony. The 7,000 vines per hectare, Single Guyot trained, grow on decomposed granite with excellent drainage, southeast-facing on steep terraces, yielding 45 hl/ha in 2022.

Cellar: François Villard Saint-Joseph AOC Mairlant Blanc is direct pressed to small French oak for a low-temperature indigenous ferment on the lees. The wine ages 12 months in barrels, 10% new, with weekly bâtonnage, then eight months in stainless steel.

CSPC:  123978

Winemakers Note: []

What the Critics are saying: “A serious, energetic and refined white Saint‑Joseph with plenty of aroma and character. The nose is full of lemons, quince peel, herbs and salt, which carry through to a medium body with bright acidity. Vertical and saline, with a precise core of lively lemons and herbs bringing a ton of vivacity to the centre of the palate. Stony and dynamic.” Score: 93 - James Suckling

Giovanni Autuori
Calgary + Alberta South

T: 403-971-1898

E: giovanni@vinoalvino.ca

Joe Gurba
Edmonton + Alberta North

T: 780-203-5284

E: joeg@vinoalvino.ca

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TECHNICAL INFO

Country:  France

Region:  Saint Pierre de Boeuf and Limony

Appellation:  Saint-Joseph AOC

Climate: 

Altitude: 

Soils: 

Varietal/Blend:  55% Marsanne, 45% Roussanne

Fermentation:  Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in old oak puncheons.

Ageing: 

Vineyard & Vine Age:  Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.

ABV:  13.5%

Produced Cases:  50

CSPC:  123978

Calgary + Alberta South

Andrew Stewart

403-604-0408

andrew@vinoalvino.ca

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Edmonton + Alberta North

Joe Gurba

780-203-5284

joe@vinoalvino.ca

Saskatoon + Saskatchewan South

Kerrie Gavin

306-290-0277

kerrie@vinoalvino.ca